Nozzle attachment fittings for fire engine hoses



Dec. 13, 1955 K. e. w. HENRIKSSON NOZZLE ATTACHMENT FITTINGS FOR FIRE ENGINE HOSES Filed Feb. 21, 1952 q. filwMffflllflli United States PatentO NOZZLE ATTACHMENT FITTINGS FOR FIRE ENGINE HOSES Karl Gustaf Wiiliam Henriksson, Stockholm, Sweden Application February 21, 1952, Serial No. 272,773

Claims priority, application Sweden February 23, 1951 Claims. (Cl. 299-144) This invention relates to a nozzle attachment fitting for fire engine hoses of the type, comprising a valve box or hollow body, to one side of which is attached a handle tube for connection with a hose and to the opposite side of which is attached both a connection piece for connection with an extension tube (applicator tube) carrying a fog nozzle, and a nozzle for ejecting a solid stream, wherein the connection piece of the extension tube and the solid stream nozzle are controlled by separate valves operated by handles.

The object of the invention is to create an automatically closing nozzle attachment fitting of said type and of such structure that the operator by one and the same hand holding the handle tube can easily cut in either the fog nozzle or the solid stream nozzle or both as desired, still maintaining the grip on the handle tube.

A nozzle attachment fitting of said type is, according to the invention, characterized chiefly in that the fog nozzle extends substantially on a line with the handle tube while the solid stream nozzle extends alongside of the handle tube, above the same, as Well as in that the connection piece for the extension tube and the solid stream nozzle are each controlled by one of two springpressed lift-valves which are disposed substantially in an axial plane of the handle tube, in parallel with each other, and each provided with a separate operating handle, these two operating handles being disposed on opposite sides of the handle tube in positions allowing actuation by the fingers and the thumb of one and the same hand holding the handle tube.

Thus, when using a nozzle attachment fitting according to the invention it will be possible easily to change from operation with the fog noule to operation with the solid stream nozzle or to use both said types of nozzles simultaneously. For instance, in case of fire in rooms one usually tries to extinguish the fire by means of fog, but if the fire has penetrated deeper into walls, floors and ceiling, the fog will only damp the smoke and the flames so that it will be necessary to change over quickly to operation with the solid stream. Now, the invention makes it possible to cut in the solid stream very quickly, without interrupting the extinguishing operation.

A particular advantage of the nozzle attachment fitting according to the invention is gained thereby that the valve springs will close the valves automatically when the operating handles are allowed to return from the position of operation to the position of rest. This feature is of great importance especially in cases in which the extinguishing work is performed by means of water obtained from tank cars, as one in such cases has to be economical with the water.

One embodiment of a nozzle attachment fitting for fire engine hoses is by way of example illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows a longitudinal section through the fitting.

In the drawing, reference numeral 1 indicates the hollow body or valve box, 2 the handle tube, 3 the hoseconnection member of the same, 4 a screw bushing by 2,726,898 Patented Dec. 13, 1955 means of which the handle tube is attached to the Valve box, 5 the extension tube (applicator tube) which carries on its terminal a fog nozzle (which may be of any wellknown type), 6 the clutch sleeve secured to the rear end of the extension tube, 7 the connection piece for the extension tube, 8 a screw bushing by means of which said connection piece is attached to the valve box, 9 a locking pin for locking the extension tube in position of connection, 10 a packing ring, 11 the nozzle for ejecting a solid stream, 12 the axially movable spring-pressed lift-valve for controlling the passageway extending to the extension tube carrying the fog nozzle, 13 the axially movable spring-pressed lift-valve for controlling the passageway extending to the solid stream nozzle.

The connection piece 7 and the lift-valve 12 are disposed on a line with the axis of the handle tube 2. The lift-valve 12 has its stem 12a guided in a stepped sleeve 14 provided centrally in the screw bushing 4 and carried by the same by means of arms 15 or the like so that the water supplied from the handle tube can pass through the spaces formed between said arms. The helical valve spring 16 is disposed between the shoulder of the guiding sleeve 14 and a ring 17 provided on the valve stem and fixed to the same by means of a pin. Thus, said ring forms a shoulder on the stem and said spring tends to hold the valve 12 in closed position. The head of the valve 12 may comprise a packing disc 12b. In the valve box above the stern 12a a transverse shaft 18 is mounted, which can be rotated by means of a fork-shaped swinging arm 19 provided with an operating handle 2!). Inside the box the shaft 18 is provided with a fork-shaped driver '21 disposed in such way that said driver will engage the ring 17 and open the valve 12 against the action of the spring 16, when the operator by means of the fingers of the hand holding the handle tube 2 forces the handle 20 towards the handle tube.

The solid stream nozzle 11 and the lift-valve 13 are disposed alongside of the axis of the handle tube 2, at a higher level than the same, and the stem 13a of the lift-valve 13 projects from the rear wall of the section of the box, containing said valve. The valve stem 13a is guided in a screw bushing 21 which is screwed into the box 1 and in which a packing box 22 is provided. The helical valve spring 23 engaging the interior end of the screw bushing 21 tends to hold the valve 13 in closed position. Also the head of the valve 13 may comprise a packing disc 13b. Behind the section of the box, containing the valve 13, a transverse shaft 24 is mounted, which can be rotated by means of a swinging arm 25 provided with a push button 26. This swinging arm 25 is provided with a fork-shaped driver 27 which engages around the projecting part of the stem 13a, inside a shoulder on the same. The driver 27 is adapted to engage the shoulder 13c and open the valve 13 against the action of the spring 23, when the operator by means of the thumb of the hand holding the handle tube 2, forces the push button 26 and thereby the swinging arm 25 towards the handle tube.

From the drawing it will be understood that the geometrical axes of the valves 12, 13 and of the handle tube 2 lie in a common plane, this arrangement being very clear and simple. Moreover, the drawing illustrates the feature that the operating elements 20, 26 proper lie on the opposite sides of the handle tube 2, and it is just this arrangement-in combination with the provision of spring-pressed lift-valvesthat allows the easy operation of the valves by the same hand that holds the handle tube.

What I claim is:

1. A nozzle attachment fitting for fire engine hoses, comprising, in combination, a valve box, a handle tube for connection with a water supply hose being attached to one side of said box, a connection piece for connec tion with 'an extension tube having a fog nozzle, being attached to an opposite side of said box and extending on a line with the axis of the handle tube, a nozzle for ejecting a solid stream being attached to said opposite side, alongside of the axis of the handle tube and higher than the same, a spring-pressed lift-valve for controlling the connection piece of the extension tube being provided in said box on a line with the axis ofthe handle tube, and another spring-pressed lift-valve for controlling the solid stream nozzle being provided in said box, alongside of the axis of the handle tube and higher than the same, said two lift-valves being provided substantially in a common axial plane of the handle tube andextending in parallel with each other, an operating handle for lifting the first-mentioned valve and a different operating handle for lifting the last-mentioned valve, said two operating handles being provided on opposite sides of the handle tube and being disposed in positions allowing actuation by the fingers and the thumb of one and the same hand holding the handle tube. a

2. A nozzle attachment fitting for fire engine hoses, comprising, in combination, a valve box, a handle tube for connection with a water supply hose attached to one side of said box, a connection piece for connection with an extension tube having a fog nozzle attached to an opposite side of said box and extending on a line with the axis of the handle tube, a nozzle for ejecting a solid steam attached to said opposite side alongside of the axis of the handle tube and higher than the same, a spring-pressed lift-valve for controlling the connection piece of the extension tube provided in said box on a line with the axis of the handle tube, and another spring pressed lift-valve for controlling the solidstream nozzle provided in said box, higher than the axis of the handle tube, said two lift-valves being provided substantially in 'a common axial plane of the handle tube and extending in parallel with each other, a rockable operating arm having a finger pressure grip below the handle tube for lifting the first-mentioned valve so as to open the valve when urged towards the handle tube, and a different rockable operating arm having a thumb pressure grip above the handle tube for lifting the last-mentioned valve provided so as to open the valve when urged towards the handle tube.

3. A nozzle attachment fitting for fire engine hoses, comprising, in combination, a valve box, a handle tube for connection with a water supply hose, said tube being connected with said 'box, an extension. tube having a fog nozzle, a connection piece for connecting said extension tube, said box opposite said hose and extending on a line with the axis of the handletube, a nozzle for ejecting a solid stream attached to said box alongside of the axis of the handle tube and at a higher level than said solid stream nozzle, a spring-pressed liftvalve for controlling the connection piece of the extension tube provided in said box on a line with the axis of the handle tube, and a second spring presed lift-valve for controlling the solid stream nozzle provided in said box, at a higher level than the axis of the handle tube, said two lift-valves being located substantially in a common axial plane of the handle tube and extending in parallel with each other, a rockable operating arm having a finger pressure grip below the handle tube for lifting and opening the first-mentioned valve when urged towards the handle tube, said finger pressure grip being mounted on a transverse shaft extending within the valve box between the two valves, and a second rockable operating arm having a thumb presure grip located above the handle tube for lifting the last-mentioned valve provided so as to open the valve when urged towards the handle tube, said thumb pressure grip being mounted on a transverse shaft extending outside the valve box behind the same.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, and in which each of said valves has a stem extending rearwardly therefrom, each of said stems having abutment means thereon, and said operating arms each being connected with a second arm engaging the respective abutment means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 and in which the one of said operating handles extends along the handle tube in position to be engaged by the operators fingers of one hand and the other located in position'to be engaged by the thumb of the same hand Without displacement of the hand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,026,191 Rowland Dec. 31, 1935 2,052,622 Hale Sept. 1, 1936 2,095,747 Jacobsson Oct. 12, 1937 2,129,511 Thompkins et al., Sept. 6, 1938 2,195,811 Bramsen et al Apr. 2, 1940 2,364,848 Hurst Dec. 12, 1944 

